Drive Canada

Nova Scotia Styled Shoot

January 3, 2020
Words by Heather Durham
Photos courtesy of Heather Durham

This stunning coastal French Chateau “Harbour Mist” on the maritime province of Nova Scotia, Canada was the inspiration for this wedding design with pretty French details and colors that mimicked the estate’s architecture. The home’s gray cedar shingles, the coastline’s bluish-grey stone that has been smoothed by years of the tide washing over it, and mussel and clam shells found along the shoreline, all determined the color palette for this wedding.

To complement the smoky blues and grays, the bride wore an appliquéd blush Monique Lhuillier wedding gown and blush Jimmy Choo heels. Her art deco diamond ring from Walton’s Antique Jewelry looked lovely placed in a vintage ring box with gold fleur de lis on the lid. Bridesmaids wore a smokey blue Watters dress with a blush underlay. Long flowing strands of a hand-dyed ribbon by Cocoon Silk Ribbon were tied around the bouquets to catch the ocean breezes.

Weathered wood guest tables sprinkled the plush green lawn and boasted gathered floral centerpieces by Thorne & Thistle, including native blooms, such as white lilac and Canada Mayflower, along with blush pink peonies, roses and foraged greenery. Guests were mesmerized with 180-degree views of the Atlantic Ocean on one side and a view of the estate, orchard and hillside on the other.

Calligraphy place cards by Gracefully Made Art were tucked into blue mussel shells at each guest’s seat. The custom wedding invitation, calligraphy and illustration of the estate were all created by Anna Lora Whitley of Silt & Pine. The Bride and Groom chose to handwrite their vows in a gray velvet Vow book by Elmo Paper Stories.

Maple syrup in a bottle shaped like the maple leaf, also seen on the Canadian flag, were parting gifts for guests and used the next morning at a brunch given by the groom’s family for out-of-town guests. It was the loveliest of days.

Vendors: Photographer & Creative Direction: Heather Durham; Floral & Event Design: Lisa Smith Thorne; Local Flower Farmer + Floral Design Assistant: Denise Stockdale; Rentals + Props + Styling: Joanna with Staged for Upsell; Wedding Dress: Monique Lhuillier from Ivory & White Boutique; Bridesmaids Dress: Amsale from Bella Bridesmaids (Nashville); Hair + Makeup: Kerri Bunn; Talent: City Models; Models: Maggie Sutherland & Kyle Hynick; Venue Location: Harbour Mist in Nova Scotia, Canada; Venue Inquiries: Stay Over Sea; Estate Rings: Walton’s Jewelry; Custom Invitation + Calligraphy: Silt & Pine; Vow Book: Elmo Paperstories; Calligraphy on Labels: Gracefully Made Art; Silk Ribbon: Cocoon Silk Ribbon

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